Summer 2026 Law Student Policy Internship chez New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Description

Position: Summer 2026 Law Student Policy Internship 

Department: Policy

Terms of Employment: Internship

Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, 55 Broadway, NY, NY (NYCLU Staff is currently working on a hybrid model)

Salary: The NYCLU will provide a stipend for summer interns who do not receive funding from their law school or any other external funding.

Application Deadline: Applications for second-year law students are strongly preferred by Sunday, November 16, 2025. Applications for first-year law students will be reviewed beginning   January 2026 and first-year law students are encouraged to apply then. 

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties.  Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org. 

DEI VISION STATEMENT

The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the New York state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, seeks a diverse group of current law students for summer 2026 internships. During our 10-week program, interns will engage in legal research and writing to support policy priorities on a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues. Interns may also have opportunities to participate in other projects such as policy campaigns and public education about civil rights and liberties.

The Policy Department focuses on advancing civil rights and civil liberties through legislation and administrative advocacy and pushing back against efforts to curtail rights. Issues the Department focuses on include immigration, policing, criminal legal system reform, gender and sexuality, privacy and surveillance, and First Amendment rights. 

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should have a commitment to public interest law and to civil liberties. Applications will be reviewed and offers will be made on a rolling basis. 

Please send a cover letter describing why you are interested in a summer internship at the NYCLU, a resume, and a recent writing sample that is wholly your own unedited work (legal or policy writing, not to exceed 10 pages). Please upload your writing sample with your cover letter as one document via  via https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3653301/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Summer-2026-Law-Student-Policy-Internship 

The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve.

The NYCLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.